Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Encyclopedia
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State
fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States
and the people of other countries around the world. It is responsible for the United States Cultural Exchange Programs
.
The current Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
is Ann Stock
, succeeding Goli Ameri
.
began the exchange of persons program with Latin America, as the Coordinator of Commercial and Cultural Affairs for the American Republics. This program sent 130 journalists from Latin America to the United States. In 1942, The United States Office of War Information
(OWI) was created out of the United States Government's need for a centralized location for information. OWI was disbanded under the Truman administration, though a small element of the original structure was maintained within the State Department as the Office of International Information and Cultural Affairs (OIC), which was renamed the Office of International Information and Educational Exchange. In 1948, the Smith-Mundt Act
sought to "promote a better understanding of the United States in other countries, and to increase mutual understanding." The educational and cultural exchange aspects of the State Department were removed from the Bureau of Public Affairs and entered the newly created bureau of Educational and Cultural Relations (CU) in 1959. In 1978, the United States International Communication Agency (USICA) absorbed the bureau with the understanding that USICA was in charge of United States public diplomacy
. Ronald Reagan
renamed USICA to the United States Information Agency
in 1982, and in 1999, USIA was absorbed by the State Department .
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the people of other countries around the world. It is responsible for the United States Cultural Exchange Programs
United States Cultural Exchange Programs
United States cultural exchange programs, particularly those programs with ties to theBureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, seek to develop cultural understanding between United States citizens and citizens of other countries...
.
The current Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, a bureau within the United States Department of State...
is Ann Stock
Ann Stock
Ann Stock is the current Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, having been sworn in on June 23, 2010.-Biography:...
, succeeding Goli Ameri
Goli Ameri
Goli Ameri is an Iranian-American diplomat, politician and businesswoman from the U.S. state of Oregon. She is the current Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Values and Diplomacy for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. She is also the former U.S...
.
History
In 1940, Nelson RockefellerNelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
began the exchange of persons program with Latin America, as the Coordinator of Commercial and Cultural Affairs for the American Republics. This program sent 130 journalists from Latin America to the United States. In 1942, The United States Office of War Information
United States Office of War Information
The United States Office of War Information was a U.S. government agency created during World War II to consolidate government information services. It operated from June 1942 until September 1945...
(OWI) was created out of the United States Government's need for a centralized location for information. OWI was disbanded under the Truman administration, though a small element of the original structure was maintained within the State Department as the Office of International Information and Cultural Affairs (OIC), which was renamed the Office of International Information and Educational Exchange. In 1948, the Smith-Mundt Act
Smith-Mundt Act
The US Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 , popularly referred to as the Smith–Mundt Act, specifies the terms in which the United States government can engage global audiences, also known as public diplomacy....
sought to "promote a better understanding of the United States in other countries, and to increase mutual understanding." The educational and cultural exchange aspects of the State Department were removed from the Bureau of Public Affairs and entered the newly created bureau of Educational and Cultural Relations (CU) in 1959. In 1978, the United States International Communication Agency (USICA) absorbed the bureau with the understanding that USICA was in charge of United States public diplomacy
Public diplomacy
In international relations, public diplomacy or people's diplomacy, broadly speaking, is the communication with foreign publics to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence. There is no one definition of Public Diplomacy, and may be easier described than easily defined as definitions...
. Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
renamed USICA to the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
in 1982, and in 1999, USIA was absorbed by the State Department .
Programs
- Congress-Bundestag Youth ExchangeCongress-Bundestag Youth ExchangeThe Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange is a youth student exchange program founded in 1983. The program, which is dually sponsored by the United States Congress and the German Bundestag, funds exchange programs for German and American students through grants to private exchange organizations in...
- EducationUSAEducationUSAEducationUSA is a global network of more than 400 advising centers supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State...
, external website - Fulbright ScholarshipFulbright ProgramThe Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
- Future Leaders ExchangeFuture Leaders ExchangeFuture Leaders Exchange is a scholarship student exchange program administered by the U.S. Department of State through funding from the Freedom Support Act...
(FLEX) - Gilman Program
- Hubert HumphreyHubert HumphreyHubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
Fellowship - International Visitor Leadership ProgramInternational Visitor Leadership ProgramThe International Visitor Leadership Program is a professional exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The purpose of the program is to help build mutual understanding between citizens of the U.S....
- Youth Exchange and Study (YES)
- Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship ProgramEdmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship ProgramEdmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State....
- TechWomen
- International Cultural Property Protection program
See also
- Cultural diplomacyCultural diplomacyCultural diplomacy has existed as a practice for centuries. Explorers, travelers, teachers and artists can be all considered examples of informal ambassadors or early cultural diplomats...
- List of Assistant Secretaries of State for Education and Culture
- Public DiplomacyPublic diplomacyIn international relations, public diplomacy or people's diplomacy, broadly speaking, is the communication with foreign publics to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence. There is no one definition of Public Diplomacy, and may be easier described than easily defined as definitions...
- United States Cultural Exchange ProgramsUnited States Cultural Exchange ProgramsUnited States cultural exchange programs, particularly those programs with ties to theBureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, seek to develop cultural understanding between United States citizens and citizens of other countries...